Perfectly Imperfect

“You’re so peculiar,” I tell her, my surprise making way for a very unladylike, snort-type laugh.

Rob looks up at his wife and just shakes his head. Her shoulder comes up again to shrug me off while taking a big bite of her breakfast.

Brushing off Kirby’s odd behavior, I finish making my way around the island and pop my own bagel into the toaster. We finish our breakfast, making small talk while we wait for our ride. I know now that the special treatment we seem to be getting has everything to do with Kane’s interest in me. I’m not sure if I would have been bothered by this a few days ago or maybe a little scared at the control he wields, but now—knowing whatever is between us is a lot stronger than I could have ever dreamt—it just brings a smile to my face.

Yes. Today is going to be a good day.

Cam was quiet, for the most part, during our drive. When we first opened the doors to climb in, I caught the tail end of a book playing through the speakers before he powered off the sound. Judging by what I heard, I was stunned to hear something that clearly had some romance in it. Cam, to me, seems like a man who would prefer action, guns, and death. Oh well, I guess that just goes to show you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

Things are insane when we make it to the set a mere fifteen minutes later. Kirby had been going over the call sheet I handed her yesterday afternoon, making notes about when she needed to have each actor in her chair in order to have them camera ready in time for their scenes. She didn’t have anything too intense like Alessandra’s battle wounds yesterday, but today, the bulk of scenes filmed would involve the supporting actors. Kirby and Grant were in charge of three or more heads for each scene. I could tell she was nervous when we finally parked behind the trailers. Yesterday was easy for her; she loved it, but today would really put her to the test.

“You’re going to be fine, Kirb.”

She nods, her silence betraying her calm and showing just how nervous she is.

“Hey,” I say. “I’m going to go tell Kane that I’m sticking with you today. He might have been full of crap when he said I was your assistant, but you need me. Let me help you out.”

Her shoulders visibly sag when she lets out the tension that had been growing. “You think he’ll be good with that?”

“Why wouldn’t he?” I challenge.

“Umm, maybe because he clearly likes having you close.”

My snort-like laugh comes out before I stifle it. “He’ll be fine. Plus, I’ll be close enough. If I stick too close, he’s bound to get sick of me.”

“I doubt that. What are you really thinking? That he won’t have the same crazy yearning to be near you that he displayed yesterday if you spend too much time together or something?”

“It’s crossed my mind,” I respond honestly.

“Ha! Fat chance of that, Wills. That man is so enchanted by you that he might as well be hypnotized.”

“Whatever,” I huff. Yeah … funny thing, I feel the same way. The feelings he gives me when we’re together are like a drug—and I feel the withdrawals of its loss when we’re apart.

Insane.

Crazy.

Extreme.

All-consuming.

“I’m going to let Kane know you’re stuck with me today, but I just want to make sure he doesn’t need anything. He seemed to be fine yesterday, but I can tell he definitely needs some help when the cameras are rolling. He goes into a trance, and he would probably not even notice if a tornado came blowing through. I’m sure Zander is around here somewhere and can pick up the slack. Plus, I wouldn’t feel right being paid for nothing, and so far … I’ve done nothing. You’re stuck with me.”

She nods and walks over to the makeup trailer. My attention is diverted for a brief second when I see the amount of people with cameras trained in my direction. They’re standing on the other side of a barricade that the local police had set up. I know they can’t actually get in here, but seeing them with their cameras snapping away toward me is a little unnerving.

A vision of my face being on one of the tabloid magazines that Kane’s always a front-page star of fills my mind. Crap. I don’t know why the thought didn’t cross my mind before. Being with Kane is a guarantee I will be put out there and judged. I’m not sure what I would do if they were to print what I’ve thought myself. I’m not good enough to be at his side. Pick me apart for the world to see.

I calm myself down but make a mental note to talk to Kane about that. Maybe he doesn’t want to deal with what would follow if we were to be seen together. That would explain why he hasn’t mentioned anything past our time in Georgia. The old Willow would have let this fear consume her, but I’m determined to change, and I really need to trust I’m strong enough to handle more than I believe. Be the change I wish for myself. That’s what I need to do.

I open the front doors and enter the high school. The front office area of the school is massive with a long hallway that leads into the classroom sections within. This had become a central hub of sorts. There are tables set up with different types of equipment, and a few other areas around them acting as a ground zero of sorts.

I see Kane talking to Zander and another man. When I reach Kane, he dismisses them. With a hand pressed against my lower back, he leads me over to where a table of refreshments is set up. He looks around to see if we have privacy before turning his attention toward me. His eyes look like the clearest sapphires.

“Are you ready for tonight?” he strangely questions. His tone is light, but I don’t miss the demand within his words.

“Tonight?” I probe.

His eyes linger on mine, brows slightly raised and a slow smile twitches his lips. A second later, he shifts closer toward me, closing what little space separated us.

“Yeah, baby, tonight. Fuck, I haven’t been able to get the thought of tonight off my mind yet.”

I swallow thickly and have to clear my throat. Frowning, I ask, “Kane, what—?”

His mouth opens and I stop talking; his smile dims slightly and he runs one of his hands through his thick hair. He seems to be sitting on the edge of confusion and uneasiness, but why? Didn’t we leave things in a great way last night?

“I meant every word I typed last night, Willow, but the question is, did you?”

With an uncertain tone, I open my mouth and lamely say, “Huh?”